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The Last September - Spoilers
By Sara , New School Classics · 4 posts · 25 views
By Sara , New School Classics · 4 posts · 25 views
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Classic Book Lists
By Katy , Old School Classics · 128 posts · 698 views
By Katy , Old School Classics · 128 posts · 698 views
last updated Oct 07, 2024 04:24PM
Film -The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
By Bob , Short Story Classics · 9 posts · 55 views
By Bob , Short Story Classics · 9 posts · 55 views
last updated Aug 20, 2014 03:45PM
The Picture of Dorian Gray, Spoilers
By Trisha · 150 posts · 612 views
By Trisha · 150 posts · 612 views
last updated Mar 28, 2025 08:14PM
The Picture of Dorian Gray, NO Spoilers
By Katy , Old School Classics · 89 posts · 551 views
By Katy , Old School Classics · 89 posts · 551 views
last updated Feb 19, 2025 09:51PM
The Picture of Dorian Gray: Background & Other
By Katy , Old School Classics · 8 posts · 117 views
By Katy , Old School Classics · 8 posts · 117 views
last updated May 31, 2014 04:36PM
The Secret Garden - Introduction: Themes, Ch. 1-3
By Christine · 47 posts · 146 views
By Christine · 47 posts · 146 views
last updated Jan 31, 2021 05:11PM
What Members Thought
Normally, I would love a Gothic novel, even if it flaunts conventions and is highlighted by long-winded descriptions of proper gentility. However, The Picture of Dorian Gray gets bogged down with trifles too often, which is distracting. There is an air of stuffiness and superficiality that becomes a little tiresome.
Also, there are few redeeming characters in the novel, as the principal ones are nauseating. Take Lord Henry, for instance. His long-winded philosophies and monologues dominate a good ...more
Also, there are few redeeming characters in the novel, as the principal ones are nauseating. Take Lord Henry, for instance. His long-winded philosophies and monologues dominate a good ...more
This was my first real Oscar Wilde and I really enjoyed it. I adore books with terrible people as main characters, and everyone was awful here. I did enjoy the first half more than the second (except for the last 2 chapters, where things really picked up again), but it was still a great read all the way through.
I've always wanted to read The Picture of Dorian Gray since my son Daniel read the children's version when he was young and loved it. Recently my daughter read the original version and loved it, so I decided it was time. And hooray, I love it too!
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a Gothic novel which I expected to be very creepy and depressing.....and sometimes it was. But in many ways it was like reading "The Importance of Being Ernest" or any other of Oscar Wilde's plays--his constant epigrams ke ...more
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a Gothic novel which I expected to be very creepy and depressing.....and sometimes it was. But in many ways it was like reading "The Importance of Being Ernest" or any other of Oscar Wilde's plays--his constant epigrams ke ...more
I chose this book because it is number 9 on the Guardian's list of the 100 best novels.
It's not. There I said it. I'm not sure I would put it in the top 100, let alone at number 9.
To be sure, Wilde has style. He has an ear for dialogue and can turn a phrase, but to what purpose? Most of the time, the purpose is, "look how witty and educated, I (Oscar Wilde) am."
It reads very much like the only novel of a very clever, but thoroughly dated playwright. The description of scene is intoxicating an ...more
It's not. There I said it. I'm not sure I would put it in the top 100, let alone at number 9.
To be sure, Wilde has style. He has an ear for dialogue and can turn a phrase, but to what purpose? Most of the time, the purpose is, "look how witty and educated, I (Oscar Wilde) am."
It reads very much like the only novel of a very clever, but thoroughly dated playwright. The description of scene is intoxicating an ...more
One of those things you hear is gay all your life but always figured its in a metaphoric, vibey way but no this is deeply rooted in the gay world almost exclusively in a way that makes it remarkable it has mainstream appeal at all. Really fascinating how eternal the social dynamics remain, felt more akin to watching Boys in the Band than anything i expected based on reputation
Aug 12, 2015
RebeccaErGlad MegetGlad
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Surprisingly quick read. Seemed somehow to resonate with what I'm studying these days, though I'm not quite sure how. I must admit that I find the dialogue of Lord Henry Wotton a bit pseudo-filosofic, and not incredibly deep. Phenomenally well written, though. The sympathy of the ruined people in Mr. Grey's wake doesn't really strike you, as you never really knew them before.
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Jan 02, 2013
Heather G
marked it as to-read
Feb 16, 2013
Peggy
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Apr 04, 2013
Mirabelle
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Dec 31, 2013
April
marked it as to-read
May 11, 2015
Randi
marked it as to-read
Jun 15, 2015
Michelle
marked it as to-read
Jul 04, 2018
Kacie
marked it as lp
